Water cooler



-A. M. GOW.

WATER COOLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1918.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET A. M. 90w.

WATER COOLER. 7 APPLICATION HLED JULY 10,1918.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- g Y .7721/6771W Q5 MN UNITE stares PATENT OFFICE.

WATER-COOLE Specification. of Letters Patent. Patgnted N va Application filed. July 10, 1.918. Serial No. 244,253.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ALEXANDER M. Gow, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water- Coolers, of which the following is a specification. j

The purpose of my invention is to effect the cooling of water by means of evaporation from the surface of a porous receptacle. The rapidity and degree of cooling depend upon a number of factors, one of which is the rate of evaporation and this may be augmented by a current of air passing over the surfaces v One of the objects of my invention is to cool water in an efficient and novel manner.

It is customary in one type of drinking fountains of the bubble type to allow the water to flow constantly from the drinking orifice, while in another type, the flow of the water is controlled by a suitably positioned valve. One form of my invention permits the cooling of the water therein by circulation of air created by the inflow of the water from the source of supply, a portion of the supply which creates the air cir culation being directed to a waste connection as it has served its purpose in creating the air circulation. The invention also involves certain novel features of construction that make for strength and low first cost.

Figures 1 and 2 show two forms ofconstruction, the essential difference being in the method of disposal of the water from the bubble fountain.

Fig. 3 shows a form wherein the supply is from a bottle or tank placed on the cooling device and is intended for use in places where a bubble fountain is not desired, or when the water supply is limited.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The water containing vessel 10 preferably is composed of two concentric porous pipes 1.1 and 12, the lower ends of which are cemented or otherwise secured to the bottom header 13, the upper ends being similarly secured to the top header 14, thus, making an annular vessel having a central passageway 15. This structure is surrounded by the casing 16. In Figs. 1 and 2 on the casing 16 and secured so that itis readily removed is a bowl 17, having a bubble pipe 18 centrally positioned and extending downwardly into the space 19 between the top header 14 and the bowl 17 and communicating by means of pipe 20, controlled by valve 21, and pipe 22, with the Water vessel 10 preferably at a point near the bottom 13. Valve 21 is operated from outside the easing 16 by means of a long valve handle 23.

lVater is supplied to the cooler by pipe 24 which enters through the bottom 13, passes through top 14 and'is controlled by valve 25 whichis operated byhandle 26 from outside ofthe casing 16. From valve 25 apipe 27 extends terminating in a nozzle 28 centrally arranged overpass-age 15 and having a branch pipe 29 connected through top 14 with vessel'10. From bowl 17 extends a drain 30. In Fig. 1, drain 30 is connected by pipes 31 and 32to, a sewer or waste pipe (not shown). In Fig. 2, drain 30 discharges into water seal 33 so positioned that when it overflows the water will be discharged through the central passage 15. On the top 14, concentric with passage 15 is mounted a funnel shaped member 34, surrounding nozzle 28 and. forming in combination withthe nozzle an ejector upon the well known principle of a jet of water forcair through an orifice. Near the bottom of casing 16 and above the bottom 13 are a series of holes 35 for the 111161101 air and below bottom 13 another'series of holes 36 for the outlet of air. For carrying away the waste water a funnel 37 is positioned near the lower end of the passage 15 and is connected to a sewer or drain (not shown).

A vessel having thin porous walls is 'apt to be fragile. By using straight porous pipes, concentrically arranged and securing their ends to top and bottom plates, which are in turn secured to a substantial casing, I am enabled to provide a cheap and substantial construction, not liable to breakage in transit,but readily replaced if broken.

The operation of the cooler, shown in Fi s. 1 and 2 is as follows:

Falves 25 and 21 being open, water from a source of supply fills the vessel 10 through pipes 24 and 29 and at the same time a portion discharges through nozzle 28, it being understood that nozzle 28 has less capacity for flow than valve 25. When water appears through bubble pipe 18 valve 21 is closed. The outside surface of porous pipe,

12 and the inside surface of pipe 11 soon will be moistened by seepage of the water. The action of the water from nozzle 28 1s is drawn in through the such that an amount of air through holes 35, upwardly space between casing 16 and pipe 2% into the space 19, down funnel 3%, through pa sage l5 and to the sewer or drain through funnel 37. If, however, a trap is placed in the sewer line, the air can escape through holes 36. The moist surfaces, therefore, of vessel 10 are subjected to a constant current of air. Evaporation with consequent cooling of the water in vessel 10 takes place. Notwithstanding the seepage and evaporation the vessel remains full, the supply be ing maintained through pipe 29, the valve 25 now being open. Now, if valve 21 be opened, cool water will pass upwardly through pipe 22 and flow from bubble pipe 18 for drinking purposes, it being understood that sufiicient pressure is maintained in vessel 10 to compensate for the height of pipe 18. Pipe 29 supplies the vessel with an amount of water equal to that drawn off so vessel 10 always remains full. The overflow from bubble pipe 18, in Fig. 1 passes oil through drain pipes 31 and In Fig. 2, it falls into the water seal 33 which overflows into funnel 334:. The water seal 33 serves the additional purpose of catching any dirt that may be thrown into the bowl 17. It will be observed that in Figs. 1 and 2, the bowl 17 can be lifted oil for cleaning or for access to valves and piping.

Fig. 3 shows the cooler surmounted by a bottle 40, mounted in casting ll having pas sageway 4-2 and pipe entering the water vessel 10. As the supply of water is limited the circulation of air is produced by means of a motor 44 driving a fan 45 over passageway 15. I may employ a water motor for driving the fan, in which event the motor would operate only when the fountain were running. In passageway 15 are battle plates which cause the air to impinge against the inner surfaces oi pipe 11. Water is drawn from cock at? The cooling action is the same as before.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the water is drawn from the vessel at a point farthest removed from the entrance of the warm water, where the water is coolest having been'subjected to the cooling process for the longest time.

I claim- 1: In a water cooler, the combination of a porous vessel composed of pipes of porous material concentrically arranged, top and bottom heads, a casing surrounding the vessel, and a removable top inclosing a space between the top head and the removable top, said space containing means for causing a circulation of air.

2. In a water cooler, the combination of a porous vessel composed of members of porous material arranged one within another, top and bottom heads therefor, a casing surrounding the vessel, and a removable top inclosing a space between the top head and the removable top, said space containing means for causing a circulation of air.

3. In a water cooler, the combination of a porous vessel composed of members of porous material arranged one within another, a closed casing surrounding the vessel, and means within said casing for causing a circulation of air.

Signed at Duluth, Minn, this 5th day of July, A. D. 1918.

ALEXANDER M. G'Ol/V. 

